There are 147 school districts in Tennessee and 1,693 public schools. During the 2020-2021 school year, there were 957,423students enrolled in public schools. About 47% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. There is a policy that directly addresses a school climate survey where Tennessee schools are not forced to administer a school climate survey but if they choose to, they must administer it online to students, parents, and staff. Other Tennessee policies related to school climate include bullying prevention, emergency planning, character education, positive behavior programs, collaborative student support, anti-discrimination, parent involvement, and internet use education for parents and students. There is a policy that states that each local educational agency and public charter school must adopt a trauma-informed discipline policy. There is a policy requiring the inclusion of black history and culture education to be included in all public school curricula in some way.
Safety
| Tennessee School Climate Measurement.
Schools are not forced to administer school climate surveys but those that choose to must administer an online version of school climate surveys as instructed by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), to parents, students, and staff. https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/school-climate.html |
Who does this protect? Students, Teachers
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4502. Part definitions.
Defines the terms cyber-bullying, harassment, bullying, and intimidation and behaviors that are associated with these actions.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4502/
Tennessee asks schools to develop and implement procedures to prevent bullying and harassment behavior and the consequences of such behavior. Policies also explain that procedures are needed for reporting an incidence of bullying and investigating it.
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4501. Legislative findings — Safety and civility.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4501/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4503. Adoption of a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying by the school district.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4503/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4504. Adoption of a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyberbullying by LEA.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4504/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4505. Reprisal or retaliation prohibited — Reporting harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying — Immunity from damages.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4505/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4506. Task forces, programs, or other initiatives.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4506/
Tennessee anti-bullying laws cover incidents that occur on school property, school-sponsored events/activities, and off-school property.
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4502. Part definitions.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-45/section-49-6-4502/
Who does this protect? Students, Teachers
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Tennessee schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies.
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-804. Adoption of comprehensive plans.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-804/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-805. Template minimum requirements.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-805/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-802. State-level safety team — Template for safety and emergency response plans.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-802/
Tennessee requires districts to implement practice drills and develop policies for drills.
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-807. Annual armed intruder drill.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-807/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 68-102-137. Public and private schools — Institutions — Fire drills — Doors to be kept unlocked — Safety drills
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/
School enforcement officers in Tennessee;
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4202 Part definitions.
A School resource officer is a law enforcement officer assigned to a school per a memorandum of understanding between the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and the local educational agency.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-42/section-49-6-4202/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4217 Employment standards for school resource officers.
- School resource officers shall participate in forty (40) hours of basic training in school policing within twelve (12) months of assignment to a school.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-42/section-49-6-4217/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-815. People are permitted to possess and carry a firearm on school grounds.
- School resource officers can possess weapons on school grounds
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-815/
Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-1309 Carrying weapons on school property.
It is an offense for students and staff to carry weapons or firearms on school property unless the staff;
- Has a jointly written authorization of the director of schools in conjunction with the principal of the school.
- Is lawfully authorized to possess weapons on school property.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-39/chapter-17/part-13/section-39-17-1309/
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Teaching/Learning
Tennessee schools must provide individuals with disabilities the support and accommodations they need;
- Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee 0520-01-09-.01 – GENERAL REGULATIONS
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-10-106 Adoption of standards or qualifications for teachers and other personnel — Adoption of evaluation procedures and eligibility criteria for children with disabilities – Cooperation.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-10/part-1/section-49-10-106/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-10-1302 Purpose of part.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-10/part-13/section-49-10-1302/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-10-1404 Requirements for participating schools — Penalties for noncompliance.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-10/part-14/section-49-10-1404/
Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Interpersonal Relationships
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-1006 Black history and culture.
The course of instruction in all public schools should include, at some appropriate grade level or levels, as determined by the local board of education, courses, and content designed to educate children on black history and culture and the contribution of black people to the history and development of this country and the world.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-10/section-49-6-1006/
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-1005. Inclusion of religion for education purposes only — Adoption of policy regarding inclusion of religion in local curriculum — Publicly available syllabus — Revision of social studies standards.
The inclusion of religion in textbooks, instructional materials, curriculum, or academic standards shall be for educational purposes only and shall not be used to proselytize or establish any religion or religious belief.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-10/section-49-6-1005/
Who does this protect? Students in specific groups
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Institutional Enviroment
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-2408. Adoption of holistic programs of positive behavior — School reports.
Community schools and communities of schools are encouraged to work with parents and community partners to adopt holistic programs of positive behavior reinforcement, such as the Ticket Program, that work with schools, parents, and the community to reinforce positive behavior at home and school and in all aspects of community life.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-24/section-49-6-2408/
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-2-305. Development and adoption of a program to promote the involvement of parents and guardians.
Local educational agencies, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents and guardians.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-2/part-3/section-49-2-305/
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-7005. Improving parental involvement in children’s education.
Local educational agencies are authorized and encouraged to partner with individuals, community and faith-based groups and organizations, and nonprofit and for-profit entities to design and implement programs to improve parental involvement.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-70/section-49-6-7005/
Tennessee Code Annotated 49-2-115. Family resource centers.
Family resource centers may be established by any local educational agency to coordinate state and community services to help meet the needs of families with children.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-2/part-1/section-49-2-115/
Who does this protect? Students, Parents
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Tennessee schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies.
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-804. Adoption of comprehensive plans.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-804/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-805. Template minimum requirements.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-805/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-802. State-level safety team — Template for safety and emergency response plans.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-802/
Tennessee requires districts to implement practice drills and develop policies for drills.
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-807. Annual armed intruder drill.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-807/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 68-102-137. Public and private schools — Institutions — Fire drills — Doors to be kept unlocked — Safety drills
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/
School enforcement officers in Tennessee;
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4202 Part definitions.
A School resource officer is a law enforcement officer assigned to a school per a memorandum of understanding between the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and the local educational agency.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-42/section-49-6-4202/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-4217 Employment standards for school resource officers.
School resource officers shall participate in forty (40) hours of basic training in school policing within twelve (12) months of assignment to a school.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-42/section-49-6-4217/
- Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-815. People are permitted to possess and carry a firearm on school grounds.
School resource officers can possess weapons on school grounds.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-49/chapter-6/part-8/section-49-6-815/
Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-1309 Carrying weapons on school property.
It is an offense for students and staff to carry weapons or firearms on school property unless the staff;
- Has a jointly written authorization of the director of schools in conjunction with the principal of the school.
- Is lawfully authorized to possess weapons on school property.
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2021/title-39/chapter-17/part-13/section-39-17-1309/
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Social Media
There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Tennessee. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School
There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in Tennessee. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School